Review: Finders Keepers Library

 

* Book 1 in the Love in Bloom series * 

For a gardener blessed with a green thumb, Savannah Collins’s life sure seems like it’s all thorns, zero roses. She has no job, no relationship, and no place to live. With nothing but a car full of plants and her new rescue kitten, Savannah heads to Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer with her beloved Aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian.

Her aunt shares her love of literature with the Finders Keepers Library, located in her beautiful garden, where anyone can stop by to pick a book or leave a book. When a sudden summer storm destroys the library and many of the roses, it will take a village to get everything ready for the garden wedding that is planned there in just three weeks.

As the entire town joins in to make the necessary repairs, Savannah bonds with their neighbor Evan Sanders over the books that Eleanor has handpicked for each of them, helping them both find healing and self-discovery. Savannah only intends to stay through the summer, but when an unexpected job offer, a sudden health crisis, and a wayward pre-teen push her future in new directions, she has to wonder whether this is the place that she is meant to be—and the family she’s meant to be with. - Summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved Aunt Eleanor and her garden library. I loved the bookish moments and the reading lists. I enjoyed the second chance romance with Savannah and Evan. June made for some entertaining moments - I felt badly for her. I wanted to wrap her up in a hug. The social media moments were funny. The secondary characters round out this novel, I can't wait to see who is featured in the next book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute - love the stack of books

Source: My Library

 Why I read this: the author + the 2nd book is a Christmas story

Hand this to: Readers who love Hallmark movies and readers who love books about books

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your romance collection.

Graphic Novel Review: Stepping Stones

When Jen and her mom move from the city to the country, everything changes. It's not just the move. Now they're living with her mom's new boyfriend. And his kids will spend weekends with them. 

Life on the farm is different. There are so many chores - plus there's selling their goods at the market. Jen's awesome at art, so creating a great looking sign is right up her alley. But she's terrible at math, so helping run the cash register gives her anxiety. 

Jen's having a hard time learning where she fits in...

Review: Little White Lies

* First Book in a Series *

Never in a million years did Sawyer Taft imagine that her estranged grandmother would show up on her doorstep. Her imagination also never included a contact where Sawyer would earn money (a lot of money) to complete the debutante season.  But she also never imagined uncovering secrets from her past.

So she said yes.

Now she's stuck in high society where secrets are more deadly than she ever imagined. When one girl threatens her family, how far will Sawyer go to stay in control and complete the contract?

My Thoughts: I love Jennifer  Lynn Barnes. I always read her book and they're always fabulous. I started this one and was sucked in. I couldn't put it down. I really liked the dual timelines - and learning why the foursome was in jail in the first place. I loved the banter between the debutantes. I loved Sawyer's sass. I love how she and her cousin became friends - I mean after that incident, how could you not? The family history stunned me. There were so many twists that I never saw coming that made me turn the pages faster and faster because I needed to know what happened. And now I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Book sent for review
Warning: When you pick up this book, make sure you have enough time to finish it.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Happy Book Birthday to one of my favorite books this year. 

My gushing review can be found here. 

But I wanted to do something special for the release date - so if you liked (loved this book), here are some other books to enjoy.

Kids Review: Amelia Bedelia Means Business

 * First book in a new series *

When Suzanne shows up on the last day of school with a brand new bike, Amelia Bedelia has bike envy.

When she talks about the new bike at dinner, her parents come up with an idea. They will pay for the half of the bike, if Amelia Bedelia can pay for the other half. After a handshake and a hug, Amelia Bedelia gets to work.

She finds a job at a dinner - working as a waitress in training. Only that doesn't turn out so well. She tries a lemonade stand, but that doesn't work either. With all the lemons leftover, she starts baking tarts...and that doesn't turnout quite as expected.

My Thoughts: I've always loved Amelia Bedelia and her literal ways. She's been a favorite of mine since childhood and I love seeing her as a kid. She still makes laugh. I'm happy that new readers are discovering her! A fun start to a new series.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Tween Tuesday Review: Sasquatch Escape

 *Book One - out today!*

**Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens. Join the fun! **

Ben Silverstein isn't excited about spending the summer with his grandfather. He's even less excited with he sees the town. He can't possibly find entertainment in the run down town of Buttonville -  could he?

On his first day, he think he spies something suspicious flying in the air. He makes eye contact with Pearl Petal - who mouths the word Dragon!  In the store, he spies a man with strange food requests and an even stranger recipe. 

When a small wounded dragon appears in his bedroom, he teams up with Pearl to take to the only vet in town. They discover that the vet in the old button factory isn't a normal vet. Instead, it's a place for imaginary creatures - including their small dragon.  While inside, Ben accidentally leaves the front door unlocked - accidentally allowing a Sasquatch to escape. Now it's up to Ben and Pearl to track down the creature and return him to the building. Suddenly the summer might not be so bad.

My Thoughts: Pure Fun! A really fun start to a fresh new series filled with creatures and danger in a small town. I love how Pearl and Ben came together. Ben's known for telling stories and Pearl's known for getting into trouble. Together they're inventive in their ideas. I love how they think out of the box. I love how they run through the town, trying to corral the Sasquatch back to the factory. I love how the Sasquatch will follow anyone for chocolate! I love the nosy neighbors; they're entertaining. I can't wait to see where this series goes!

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: ARC from the publisher